AeroGeo and SKOL to operate Rosneft’s Twin Otters

Russian oil company Rosneft will split its order for DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft between two local operators. Five out of 10 aircraft purchased by RN-Aircraft, Rosneft’s aviation division, will be operated by SKOL, a private operator registered in Surgut. It has an affiliate office in Krasnoyarsk, where the aircraft are based. The remaining five aircraft will be operated by Krasnoyarsk-based AeroGeo, which was responsible for the acceptance and ferrying of the aircraft.

In mid-October AeroGeo delivered to Krasnoyarsk the eighth of the ten aircraft ordered by Rosneft in August 2015.

At the moment Rosneft is transferring three DHC-6s to SKOL. Later on, when the final two aircraft of the batch reach Russia, they will also be added to SKOL’s fleet. All of these aircraft will be based on Cheremshanka airport, 2 km from Krasnoyarsk’s main airport Yemelyanovo.

SKOL was one of the candidates to perform the aircraft acceptance procedures, however AeroGeo’s offer was more competitive and won RN-Aircraft’s tender.

“We’ve got the flight crews and the technicians in place to start operating the aircraft. At the moment we are initiating procedures for registering the new type with our Air Operator Certificate. So we are gearing up to start operations and count on the launch before the end of the year,” the SKOL representative told Russian Aviation Insider.

The remaining five DHC-6 aircraft will be operated by AeroGeo from its base in Krasnoyarsk-Severny airport. Just one DHC-6 is currently registered in the operator’s AOC. “Rosneft hasn’t yet come up with the idea how to use this aircraft, and AeroGeo is not authorized to use it in third party interests without coordinating it with the owner. So the aircraft is just basically sitting there,” an industry source told Russian Aviation Insider. No comment was available from the operator.

SKOL is to become the fourth operator of Twin Otters, after AeroGeo (May 2016), Aurora (2014) and ChukotAvia (end of 2012).

382 - DHC-6-300 8Q-IAH Island Aviation Services, Male (Maldivian)

Officially imported to Canada 29-Nov-2016. Aircraft was returned to Calgary on 10-Nov-2016 after lease.

Saturday, 26 November 2016

Flew Male - Al Ain - Hurghada 24/26-Nov-2016 returning to Canada after lease. The aircraft had been operating in the Maldives since 09-Dec-2014, and is seen below upon its arrival there. As with the delivery flight in 2014, the return is being flown by World Wide Ferry.

949 - DHC-6-400 C-GVFP Viking Air Ltd., Sidney, BCUpdating entry for 10-Nov-2016, flew Spokane, WA - Victoria, BC as VKN949 10-Nov-2016 after painting. The aircraft is seen below on arrival in Victoria, with thanks to Tim Martin (who notes as well that the emergency placards on the exterior are in Spanish).

Monday, 14 November 2016

Updating the entry for 12-Apr-2016; following the accident that occurred at Fentress, TX 09-Apr-2016, the aircraft was acquired by Gravitas Aviation in Oct-2016 for parts. It has -27 engines, the large forward emergency exits and a roll-up skydiving door.

The aircraft has been transported via road to Calgary, AB and is seen in the photo below after arrival.

Tuesday, 8 November 2016

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Team JAS, the Twin Otter Solutions Company, is pleased to announce that they have been acquired by Regional One Worldwide Services headquartered in Miami, Florida.

"We are very pleased to join the Regional One team of aviation professionals” said Andy Sanfilippo, CEO of Team JAS. "We have a long standing history of supporting Twin Otter operators worldwide, and our future as part of Regional One will help us to expand on our successes and provide even greater value to our customers.” Team JAS will remain headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida with no management or other operational changes. “It’s business as usual for Team JAS’s customers, suppliers and employees” added Andy Sanfilippo. “The only difference will be the added scale and support we will enjoy from becoming part of the Regional One Team”

"Team JAS has a strong presence in the Twin Otter market and we are very excited to have them join our Regional One family” said Hank Gibson, President of Regional One. "By combining the strengths of both organizations I am very confident that we can reach new heights in customer service and support across our combined customer bases”.

Regional One is a purchaser, lessor and seller of aircraft, aircraft parts, engines and engine parts and other related support items applicable to the Regional / Commuter aircraft worldwide. For more information please visit www.regionalone.com

Team JAS is a customer driven solutions company that has supported the Twin Otter fleet worldwide for over 30 years. Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL, the 33,000 square foot facility includes sales and logistical support, a maintenance repair and overhaul facility: JAS ServicesSM FAA/EASA 145 and Viking Air Ltd. FECC (Factory Endorsed Component Center) approved, an engineering and manufacturing division: JAS Engineered SolutionsSM, and a large climate controlled warehouse. For more information please contact our team at 904.292.2328 or via email at sales@teamjas.com

Wednesday, 2 November 2016

Orlando, Florida, November 2nd, 2016: Viking Air Limited of Victoria, British Columbia, and Caverton
Helicopters, based in Lagos, Nigeria, have signed an agreement for the purchase of a second Series
400 Twin Otter aircraft to add to Caverton’s existing fleet currently operating in western Africa.

Caverton’s second Twin Otter Series 400 is scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2017, and will
provide essential services in support of the company’s contract with the Cameroon Oil Transportation
Company (COTCO), a specialized joint venture created between Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Petronas, and
the governments of Chad and Cameroon.

Under the contract, Caverton Helicopters will utilize the Series 400 Twin Otter for onshore pipeline
surveillance and passenger transfer services for COTCO along the 1,070-kilometer underground
pipeline route between the Doba oil fields in Chad to the offshore export terminal in Cameroon.

“To have Caverton return to Viking to purchase a second Twin Otter Series 400 is a testament to the
quality of the aircraft and suitability for use in the harsh operating conditions of western Africa,” said Peter
Walker, Viking regional sales director, Africa, Middle East & Asia Pacific. He added, “After seeing four
years of successful service from their first Viking aircraft, Caverton’s confidence in the Series 400’s ability
to reliably operate has afforded them the opportunity to participate in such an important contract.”

About Caverton Helicopters:
Caverton Helicopters Limited was established in September 2002 as a charter, shuttle and
maintenance company aimed at bridging the gap in the onshore helicopter service sector. Today,
the company’s focus is to render logistics and environment support services to Nigerian Oil and Gas
producers, with broader support services offered to energy operations along the West African shelf.
Caverton operates out of a 10,000 square meter facility at the Murtala Muhammad International
Airport in Lagos, along with several purpose-built facilities in Victoria Island, Port Harcourt, Warri
and Cameroon.

Viking Enters into Comprehensive Multi-Year Support Contract with the
Peru Air Force for Series 400 Twin Otter Aircraft

Orlando, Florida, November 2nd, 2016: Viking Air Limited of Victoria, British Columbia, and the
Fuerza Aerea del Peru (FAP) have entered into a multi-year contract for the comprehensive support
of twelve Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft operated by the FAP in the Amazonian region of north-east
Peru.

Modeled after similar OEM fleet support programs, the objective of the contract is to streamline the
spare parts procurement process, obtain seamless technical support, and maximize the utilization of
their fleet of twelve Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft.

The contract will commence in the coming weeks and provides the FAP with a continuous flow of
spare parts, on-site technical support, “Performance-Based Logistics (PBL)” parts and overhaul
services associated with scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and supply of initial provisioning
spare parts and equipment required to support the fleet of twelve aircraft.

A key component of the contract, the PBL program was specifically developed to provide the FAP
with budget predictability, a simplified and expedient parts ordering process, up-to-date technical
publications, and all the necessary tools required to monitor upcoming maintenance events. The
program also provides coverage for parts and overhaul services associated with scheduled and
unscheduled maintenance events for the airframe systems, avionics, and propellers.

“As the OEM, Viking is ideally positioned to provide the Peru Air Force with the essential parts supply
and technical expertise required to maximize utilization of their Series 400 fleet,” commented Michael
Hall, Viking’s director of Global Customer Support. “The FAP’s implementation of such an allencompassing
support contract is a progressive step towards ensuring the longevity of their fleet,
and Viking is proud to be part of their continued success.”

The FAP’s twelve Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft purchase is Viking’s largest single-customer order
to date. The aircraft were configured with both land gear and floats to support various missions in
remote areas of Peru, and were delivered between 2011 and 2014.

Tuesday, 1 November 2016

IKHANA Aircraft Services (IKHANA) announced FAA airworthiness certification and the first
flight of Twin Otter Series 300, N808RT, modified to 14,000 lbs. MTOW as an FAA Certified
flight test aircraft in support of IKHANA’s RWMI DHC-6-300HG™ Standard Commuter Category
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) program. “At this early stage, all indications show we are
going to turn a great airplane into an exceptional one.” states Mr. John A. Zublin, President and
CEO of IKHANA, “The flight test pilots were extremely happy with the DHC-6-300HG™
performance, especially the added horsepower and quietness of the four bladed propellers. Our
next steps will validate the 14,000 MTOW to the rigorous FAA regulations to provide operators
increased payload and the opportunity for increased revenues.”

The RWMI DHC-6-300HG™ STC increases the payload capabilities of the basic DHC-6-300
and, potentially, DHC-6-400 Twin Otter Series aircraft from 12,500 lbs. (5670 Kg) to 14,000 lbs.
(6350 Kg) MTOW. As a Standard Commuter Category STC, DHC-6 Series 300 and, possibly
Series 400, aircraft will be approved to operate in revenue service without special purpose
restrictions. IKHANA’s current RWMI DHC-6-300RG™/-400RG™ STC is limited to special
missions operations, constraining operators from carrying passengers for revenue service.

Viking Sells Twin Otter Series 400 to Government of Panama’s
Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (SENAN) Air Group

Orlando, Florida, November 1st
, 2016: Viking Air Limited of Victoria, British Columbia has sold
its first Series 400 Twin Otter to the government of Panama for use by its Servicio Nacional
Aeronaval (SENAN) Air Group based in Cocoli, Panama. The aircraft is scheduled for delivery in
the coming weeks, and will be utilized to support the agency’s humanitarian aid missions
throughout the country.

The Series 400 will be the first Twin Otter to be introduced to SENAN’s operational fleet, and will
be integral to the successful development of services the agency provides to the Panamanian
population.

David Caporali, Viking’s regional sales director for Latin America, commented, “SENAN is excited
to be adding the Series 400 Twin Otter to their operational capacity, where its performance and
amazing versatility will be put to good use on the many short-field airstrips common in the region.”

About SENAN:
The Servicio Nacional Aeronaval (SENAN) Air Group is responsible for indoctrination, training,
coordination and monitoring air operations for compliance with the State’s mission to protect life,
honor, property and other rights and freedoms of individuals within the Republic of Panama. SENAN
is renowned for its professionalism and high operational performance, and is comprised of Airlift
Squadron, Helicopter Squadron, and Air Training unit.

About Viking Air Limited:
Headquartered in Victoria, BC, Viking is the global leader in utility aircraft support and services,
and the manufacturer of the world-renowned Series 400 Twin Otter. Viking is the Original Type
Certificate holder for all out-of-production de Havilland aircraft, from the DHC-1 Chipmunk through
the DHC-7, and provides exclusive spare parts manufacturing for the legacy de Havilland fleet.

In 2007 Viking launched the Twin Otter Series 400 production program, and to date over 125 new
aircraft have been sold to 29 countries worldwide, averaging a production rate of one new aircraft
delivered every 15 business days.

In October 2016, Viking completed the acquisition of Bombardier’s amphibious aircraft program,
including transfer of the Type Certificates (manufacturing rights) for the CL-215, CL-215T, CL-
415 aircraft and all variants to Viking. In addition to the Type Certificates, Viking has also
assumed responsibility for product support, parts and service for the fleet of 170 water bombers
currently in operation around the world.

Orlando, Florida, November 1st, 2016: Viking Air Limited of Victoria, BC, Canada has now received
Type Certification for the Series 400 Twin Otter in Brazil, adding to the list of twenty-nine countries
now recognizing the type worldwide. The Certification was granted by Brazilian civil aviation authority
ANAC (Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil) in October 2016, and will help pave the way for the first
ever Twin Otter to enter the Brazilian market.

With the recent focus by Brazil’s government to develop policies that foster regional air transport links
to remote locations throughout the country, certification of the Twin Otter Series 400 by ANAC is an
integral factor in moving forward within the rapidly expanding Brazilian market.

“The Series 400 Twin Otter is the perfect solution for the remote areas of Brazil as it can provide
essential air transportation to areas lacking infrastructure development,” said David Caporali,
Viking’s regional sales director for Latin America. “The Series 400 platform is ideally suited for the
harsh operating conditions that Brazil presents, and we are confident it will prove itself to be the
aircraft of choice for commercial and government operations alike.”

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